£750,000 cost of shutting Jobcentre

More than £750,000 was spent closing a London Jobcentre — only for it to be reopened.

The Bexleyheath branch was shut two years ago but officials brought it back as unemployment rose in the area from 3.4 per cent to 4.2 per cent in 12 months. Another Jobcentre in Birmingham was also shut and reopened at a cost of £336,000. Minister Jim Knight said the closures were to save money.